Unknown: Hey plant people.

It's Tinisha Spain, host of Mid American gardener.

And you know, I love a good gardening field trip.

And today, we are hanging out at Plantify in Champaign.

So let's go in and check out all the cool plants and gifts and accessories that they've got inside.

Let's go.

Alright, we've made our way inside.

Absolutely beautiful space in here.

Thank you for letting us stop in first tell us a little bit about the history.

How long have you guys been open in this location?

Yeah.

Well, so we opened around the beginning of the pandemic.

So June of 2020.

Yeah, that's a scary time to open up this.

Yeah, definitely.

And when you guys opened, talk a little bit about that, because we've talked on this show a lot about the explosion of plants and their popularity during the pandemic.

So what was that like?

Yeah, well, it was no striking.

So just to talk a little bit about our motivation behind opening the shop.

So we come from Vietnam.

So we grew up surrounded ourselves with tropical plants.

So we always been playing lovers.

And ever since we moved to the US, we have always wanted to bring plans into our life.

And as plan lovers, we found it is there have not been easy for us to always find a plan that we want in the local market.

And it's especially difficult to find good planners, nice looking planters, high qualities, ones with granite holes.

So we thought there might be a need for, you know, for the local market to bring in a collection of nice, easy to care for House plans and high quality, nice planters.

So we we always wanted to do something about that.

Now, we didn't plan for the pandemic to happen.

But it presented us with both an opportunity and a challenge, right?

The challenge for sure, there's so much uncertainty, there's so many changes in the way people do things, we don't know what's going to happen, whether we don't still going to be living alive the way that we did before.

But then the opportunity is people are now spending more time at home than ever before.

Right.

So and there's also this anxiety stress that we think it will be nice to bring houseplants inside and help with that.

And so we, you know, we talked about it.

And then we still decided to go ahead with our idea and open up paint shop buy in 2020, at the beginning of June, and that is when the lock now was just lifted.

So people started to get to go outside a little bit.

And with the help of the community, we were able to survive.

And we were even able to expand our store into a larger space last year after one year of opening.

So yeah, that's our story.

So when you opened in June, during the pandemic, what was the reception like?

Where people shop coming in to shop a lot?

Was it a slow start?

What was that like getting off the ground?

It was a pretty good start.

We have a good amount of people coming in.

We also offer fleet delivery with every purchase around the champions of all Urbana area.

So we also delivered a lot.

But yeah, with the help and support of the community.

We have a strong planning community here in Champaign Urbana, and we were able to people were helping us to get the words out.

And so we have a lot of people coming in to check out giving us their support and blessing and we that we were able to grow what Yeah, do you see a lot of your customers coming back?

Do you have a lot of repeat customers?

Yeah.

Or do you see new customers or both?

We have seen a combination of both.

So the thing about location is that is pretty good.

You know, it has pretty good exposure.

So every once in a while we'll have people coming in saying that they just drove by and they see this huge windows for plants.

It looks so nice.

And those they came in and check out.

And then we also have a lot of returning customers and many of them have become our friends.

And yeah, that that they would come visit us.

We'll talk about plants we talk about anything.

And so we always been grateful for these wonderful relationships.

Awesome.

Awesome.

Tell me a little bit about the name.

Where did you guys decide how did you decide on Plantify?

Because it feels like a verb right?

Are you are you planning to find your Yeah, that right?

It is definitely Yeah, we were we space?

wanted some thing that sounds simple, but still is like plan related, but a little bit more more than because that's where we think our vibe would be you know, more than elegant, nice looking vibe and so we taught Have Plantify Yeah, it's a verb is like clarify things in your life, right.

And instead of putting it in the context of the pandemic, we want it to make it a statement that, like, we can make our living space nicer by bringing nature plans inside, and it will help purifying the place.

And it will help, you know, just relieve our stress and make it you know, much, much better leaving space for everyone.

You talked a little bit about the plant community here in town, we visited a couple of places we visited with Mathis, we talked to Lauren Quinn from CU plant people, you know, all these people, because you guys are always working together.

I love that.

So you said someone will buy a plant from plant mode and bring it here?

And have you guys potted or something like that?

Yeah, we see that a lot.

Yeah.

And I'm glad that we are all allies here in this town, and that we have a strong community that support and that affair and never, you know, discriminate.

One plays against another.

And I think that's a wonderful environment.

That is incredible.

Incredible.

So when people come in, typically, what's the thing that they're usually most surprised about?

Is it the plants?

Or is it the accessories?

What do you find people are just drawn to when they come in?

I think people must when they first walk into the store, like we got a lot of compliments on how lustful and how nice the place is looking we have the window with like really good sunlight, you know, they are good for nurturing plants, but also they make the place look very bright and and we try to arrange our store in a way that make it easy for customers to stroll around and look at things but also they can enjoy, you know the greenery a little bit.

And so I think people were most people are most impressed with how the how nice the place looks.

And then they are also they also love the fact that we carry a little bit of everything, we have a nice collection of cacti and succulents.

And we also have a collections of whole years and other health plans like Pocitos snakes, we have some exotic plants as well, depending on the sock.

And we also try to take requests from our customers in the looking for something we also try to find out for them.

And our customers also love that we carry a lot of parts.

Because the parts will really make the plans pop out and look much nicer is in your house.

And so I think what makes it kind of special is that we try really hard to to fight of new, unique nice looking parts that come in different styles and colors so that it will fit into anyone's house nicely.

Wonderful.

Yeah, but I think we have been extremely thankful for the wonderful community here.

And I think that we're really lucky here in Champaign Urbana, we never thought that we would be so successful really, we started in the smallest space next door, which is only 1/3 of what it looks like here.

So you really did increase.

And then we were doing so well that after a year, we were able to expand the space.

So yeah, we we are extremely grateful.

And we didn't think that we would have so much support and love for the community and now we've caught up with the other owner Long So first, what got you into plants?

How did you dream this up?

Well, you know, I was, I am from Vietnam, I grew up in Vietnam, surrounded by so many tropical plants.

And plan is you know, like our friends like a family we grew up together.

When I moved here in 2011 I, the winter is kind of depressing for me because it's it's lack of greenery around the around here then.

I used to have a lot of plants at home and I feel like that is a nice way to you know, make people feel happier during the winter time.

So I think that's an idea.

Nice idea to you know, open a plant shop and you know, share that with that.

Yeah, very nice.

Very nice.

So, folks who come in do you see a variety Do you have, you know, you're serious houseplant person who comes in and knows the genus and the species and the exact one that they want versus the brand new you know, I don't know what I want person.

Yeah, well in the past two years we have a lot of people coming into the store from you know, like a plan beginner to like plan expert like we have people with like 400 plans.

Coming here to get something They don't have like a rare philodendron, a rare Hoya.

And it's been a very interesting, you know, to have different people in the store and talk about, you know, you know what we have and like how to take care of this rare Hoya what condition they want.

And, you know, it's kind of interesting.

It's also like, it's also, you know, like a learning process for me as well.

So we have to find some of those plants that people come on their wish list.

It's not always easy to, you know, to get a handle on those kind of less common plans.

But, you know, we try our best and we go to Japan, or wholesale or nursery in the country to, you know, to get different kinds of plans for the people.

And we also take requests.

So if you really want a certain type of Poya, or philodendron, we'll go out there looking for it for you.

Wow, that's service and delivery, right?

We offer free delivery for order in Champaign Urbana and Savoy area.

Wow, very nice.

So when people come in, share with us a few of the things that they What do you sell the most of what do people come in for, and you just see them flying off the shelves.

Actually, you know, most people coming here, they're looking for something that is easy to take care of something that, you know, if you go on a vacation for a week, you don't have to worry about that.

So for example, like the potholes here, we have the Zizi plans or snack plan.

It shouldn't be you know, it doesn't need water within one or two weeks.

So it's very easy to take care of it.

You know, it can do well in different kinds of lighting situations.

So that's why you know, that's what I usually recommend when you are the new plan people.

Okay, yeah.

All right, anything behind you.

That's, excuse me for the more intermediate, maybe advanced plant person.

Uh huh.

So is that an orchid walk it is, you know, awkward is kind of easy to take care of, you know, even though they like humidity, like high humidity, but you know, it's still kind of easy to check out.

This one is kind of a new trending houseplants.

So this is called the POTUS silver satin.

And, you know, it's, it's, it's a pot or so it's easy to take out, but it's a little bit more finicky it like higher humidity than the regular POTUS over here.

But basically, it's still kind of you know, in the medium like intermediate range.

Yeah.

What are some of the more fussy plants we talked about the fiddle lease?

Yes, yes.

Yes, fiddle leaf is is a very finicky plans.

But the other plant that I find is also kind of difficult to keep it alive is a plant like like Colombia here so Colombia they like very high humidity.

They doesn't like tap water because tap water has a chlorine and extra mean or or that the plants cannot process and so it's kind of it's very easy it's very common to help the brow edges here because it just don't like tap water.

Gotcha.

It's a little bit more needy, a little bit more needy, okay.

And you don't just sell plants this is like a full you know, you can come here and get your plant your pot and accessories and gifts.

So let's let's go explore some of the gifts that you guys have in the in the gift items.

Okay, so you know in the past two year I found out that you know plants is a great gift idea for epic occasion.

A lot of people come here to get plans for their you know, friends housewarming.

Last weekend was the Mother's Day A lot of people come here to get the plans for mothers because you know there's no better way to say thank you for you know, thank you for helping me grow rice during and then in in last Valentine we also a lot of people also come here came here to get plans for their significant other because there's no better way to say you know my love for you on the gross, right?

Yeah, so move over roses.

Yes.

houseplants Valentine.

Yes.

So I really hope that people will see house plants at an auto native give option beside you know, flowers to things.

So you can enjoy a little longer.

Yeah, okay.

So and also a lot of people came here and they say I don't have any natural light in the office.

Right.

So then we will tell you, you know, there is some option for you.

That is the most amigo so the most you know they live in the bottom of the leg where it is very cold and dark.

So there is a perfect things that you can have in your office with minimal natural light.

And it's very cute.

and this will grow this ball.

So it will get never seen one of these before.

Yeah, it will get floppy.

You know, like maybe get one or two centimeter a year.

Yeah.

Interesting.

Do you have to feed it?

Do you do so every every month?

You have to chain the water.

Wow.

Okay.

Yeah, it's a living species, but it's just, you know, it's it kind of stay at one place.

It doesn't really move a lot, but it's really new.

Yeah, definitely.

Yeah.

Very cool.

What else?

Oh, I see you've got some air plants.

So our plan is another good option.

You know, if you you've won something, you know, that is really easy to take care of.

There's no soil, you can put our plan on basically every surface, as long as it doesn't get direct sunlight and not too dark.

So it's very easy to take care of.

You know, we also have like, grow kit, like, like, like this broken.

They are actually met in Chicago.

Oh, wow.

Yeah.

Local ish.

Yeah.

So I mean, if you, if you want to grow something in lifestyle in a small apartment, you can start with some of these.

So each kit, it comes with everything you need to grow, let's say a cactus.

This is hydroponic kids.

So this is like a job, there is a soil in here.

There's like cactus seed.

And also there's, you know, like, everything you need to grow a cactus.

Very cool.

Yeah.

And it is, you know, like a pressed flower.

So, if you are looking for a nice gift for your, let's say, Mother, then this is another one that is really cool.

These locally made, these are not locally made, but they are made in Colombia, Colombia, very nice.

We do have some locally made products, such as you know, like this apothecary product like a BAS SOT and, you know, some you know, essential oil here they are located in champion.

And you can come here and like assemble a whole, like a gift basket of some sorts.

Sure.

Like, we also have, you know, some, you know, stationary things, you know, all you know, like, yeah, trying to make your home look of smell nicer.

Or these are some cocoa coil planter met in the Philippines.

That actually looks like my dog.

I've got a boxer, it looks just like my dog.

Very cool.

And we also have something like a keychain or you know, a pin just to put it on your clothes.

And you know, to claim you know, your passion for fashion for plants.

Yeah.

Wonderful.

Is there anything else about we talked about the plans, we talked about some of the gifts?

Is there anything else that you wanted to point out or discuss that I didn't touch on?

Well, I mean, you know, the advantage of shopping at plenty Fi is that we offer free reporting.

So you pick the plant, and then you pick apart and then we put them together for you.

We put extra soil we reposition the plan, we restyling the plan so it will look very nice ready for you to give to your parents to your significant other to your friends.

And you don't have to do anything and that is free of charge.

You know when you when you come in here you don't have any plans at home.

We offer free consultation to you we will recommend what plan will be best for your area what plan gonna be good for a low lie corner what plan gonna be good Indianola sunny window, and then and so you come in and kind of describe your space?

Yes, and your skill level?

Yeah.

And then you help folks shot or find something that I would recommend people to you know, you know, show us some photo about the space that they want to have plans and, you know, we you know, we can give you some idea and you know, we always available on social media.

And you know, like we can be contact through the phone through the email.

So if you have any questions, send us a photo, we will try to investigate what's going on, when we're trying our best to give you some idea how to fix a problem.

So going into business is scary.

Going into business during a pandemic is even scarier.

What has been the most rewarding part for you so far over these past two years?

I think the most rewarding part for me is to, to meet and new to meet and, and make friends with a lot of customers over the past two year you know, without their support, I wouldn't be where I am today.

The store wouldn't be this beautiful today.

So, so like through this program, I would like to show my gratitude to all of our customers in the past two years.

Alright, so now we're getting some hands on experience here.

So is this called moss art?

Yes.

All people also call it preserve muscle war.

Okay, so it's a natural mask, but it's actually preserved with chemicals.

So it will be able the color will be preserved for five to 10 years.

Okay, so tell me how you how you work this.

So basically, we this is the glue, and that is like a small piece of mass.

So we put them together using the glue here.

So different mass war will look very differently.

Or do people come in and say specifically, what they're looking for, like these accidents here?

Sure.

So most work is highly customizable.

You know, we can do this two by two, look, we can do two by four, four by 10.

It just depends on the size of the of the frame that you want to have.

Also, different masks will have a different look different thickness, different color.

Did it's just a regular mass.

But we do have like the moss in like, green color yellow color, we can also dyes the mass to the color that you like.

Very cool.

Very cool.

So this is a poor customer.

They're going to be picking this up today.

Oh, sure.

Yeah.

Wow.

So if you wouldn't, if you wanted to order something like this, you just kind of come in and explain the size you're looking for color scheme Navy, and then you guys just sort of take it from there.

Sure.

Yeah.

Very cool.

Now how long does it take to put something together like this, so it will take me up to about five to 10 hour to work on this.

And today, we're gonna do this, this product is almost done.

And we just have some small area we need some detail that we need to finish and we can do it now.

Okay, yeah, let's see.

All right, so let's say like in this corner there's a few areas that doesn't have the mask because you know, when you put the like the exists pieces to piece of master gathers as Ariel here, that little gap and then you just need to get like a small piece of moss here like small enough so you can feel the gap and use use the glue.

And you put the glue in the base, the bottom here and then you add the mass to this location.

So now you don't see the gap anymore.

So how did you decide on you know, the textures?

And I see the ridges and the bumps and you know, how do you how do you negotiate that?

Well, I usually just you know, go with whatever PCs that I have.

So different masum different PCs will have different look.

And they they are all unique.

And now once they're the customer gets this home is there any maintenance to this, so pray, they have to maintain it at all.

That is a maintenance free piece of art.

So you when you bring this home, you keep it in the area that doesn't get sunlight, okay.

And occasionally you might want to do a soft vacuum cleaners, because it might attract dust on the moss.

However, you don't have to do anything is preserved so it's not growing.

You don't have to spray it you don't have to do anything else is how just another one of those unique gift items.

It makes your home look like a little fortress.

And that does it for this edition of Mid American gardener.

I'm your host Tinisha Spain.

If you've got plant questions for the experts, you can send us an email to yourgarden@gmail.com make sure you attach a picture and you can also find us on Facebook, just search for Mid American gardener.

Thanks for watching and we'll see you next time.

Goodnight